Valerie Jarrett reacts to ‘Roseanne’ cancellation

Jean-Loup Chereau |Samedi, Juin 02, 2018

Mike Coppola WireImage
Roseanne

Comedian Wanda Sykes tweeted that she was quitting her job as a consulting producer on "Roseanne", and ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey said in a statement shortly thereafter that the network was canceling the show as the direct outcome of Barr's social media activity.

Barr deleted Monday night's post and said she was leaving Twitter, but has since posted a flurry of tweets including one claiming other comedians "have said worse".

Roseanne Barr is apologizing to the cast and crew of her re-booted sitcom who are now out of work. "I apologize to Valerie Jarrett and to all Americans".

"I support ABC's decision to cancel the show in the wake of Roseanne Barr's most recent reprehensible tweets".

In one of her other deleted tweets, Barr said "I'm sorry 4 my tweet, AND I will also defend myself as well as talk to my followers.so, go away if u don't like it".

The revival of the comedy was a surprise smash for ABC, owned by the Walt Disney Co., and was counted on to lead the network's fortunes next season.

"I'm fine", she said. The deleterious tweet was about a former President Barack Obama aide, Valerie Jarrett, and what Roseanne Barr believed to be Jarrett's religion and her ancestry. "Forgive me-my joke was in bad taste", Barr wrote.

One message she re-tweeted on Wednesday falsely accused the Hungary-born Jewish billionaire of collaborating with the Nazis. "I'm fine. I'm anxious about all the people out there who don't have a circle of friends and followers who come right to their defense".

Emma Kenney, who plays Darlene's daughter Harris, said "the racist and distasteful comments from Roseanne are inexcusable", adding: "Bullies do not win". Sara Gilbert, a co-star, also tweeted that the remark was abhorrent. Jarret was born in Iran to African-American parents.

Three weeks earlier, "Roseanne" was the toast of ABC's annual presentation of its programming plans to advertisers.

Barr's racist tweet came in response to another Twitter user, who accused Mrs Jarrett of helping to hide purported spying during the Obama administration. The network renewed the contract for the second season even before the first season had ended.

The cancellation has no clear precedent in television history, said David Bianculli, professor at Rowan University in New Jersey. Then ABC pulled the plug on the show.

Barr, a known supporter of President Donald Trump, was asked to reboot her hit show from the 90s, Roseanne, on the ABC. "Dungey for placing the values of diversity, inclusion and respect for humanity above ratings".

While Disney knew what they were getting into by hiring Barr, there is no denying the success the show has brought.

With all the tumult and reactions to Roseanne Barr's tweet that have occurred in the last two days, I fell sorry for all parties involved. "Roseanne made a choice". What he didn't express was any sort of condemnation of Barr's racist tweet. A racist one. ABC made a choice.

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